Guess what? I finally wrote Chapter 1 in the current WIP. Of course, I already have 23K words written on the project. I just figured it was time to start the story in the right spot, which took awhile to figure out. Then came today’s #1lineWed prompt which gave participants a variety of suggestions for the theme. **POSITIVE – NEGATIVE** **PLUS – MINUS** **REAL – IMAGINARY** and for SciFi fans **MATTER – ANTIMATTER** As I had notthing that fit, I took up the challenge for the opening to Chapter 2.
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Sade and Caleb sat in identical chairs in the reception area outside of FBI Director George Bailey’s office. His secretary, a tiny woman with knowing eyes, ignored them. Caleb slumped in the uncomfortable chair, eyes closed. Sade stared at the nameplate on the front of the desk. ALICE COOPER. She tried making different words out of the letters, without success.

The intercom on Alice’s desk buzzed and the director’s voice boomed, “Send them in.”
The two agents pushed out of their chairs and trudged toward the door that opened into the inner sanctum. It opened with a whisper. Someday, Sade would figure out just what sort of magic the director’s right hand wielded. She made sure Alice didn’t see the side eye flashed her way.

The door swung shut behind them and the two sank into only slightly more comfortable chairs arranged in front of Bailey’s desk. The dark surface always reminded Sade of an aircraft carrier. The director tapped an index finger on the one piece of paper on that massive desk.

“Not much of a report.”

Sade sat up straight, balanced on the front edge of the chair. “Not everything is black and white, sir.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Next you’ll talk about plus or minus and other shit.”
Yeah, the Old Man was not happy. “On the positive side, Agent Jones and I are still breathing and we have photographs.”

“And the negative?”“The perpetrator or perpetrators blew up the evidence, along with our official vehicle.”

“Your suspect?”

“Don’t have one.”

“It’s my understanding that the hand print in the minivan belonged to Clan Kholikikos’s Drakon.”

Sade glanced at Caleb. He offered her a look that spoke volumes—like “what was I supposed to do,” “I had to tell him,” and “the dude did call and distract you right before the mortar attack.” She returned her gaze to her boss and said, “According to Agent Jones, it did.”

“You have an alternative explanation?”

She wondered if she looked as shifty-eyed as she looked. “Maybe.”
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I hope that whets your appetite for what happens in the opening chapter. Plus, progress! Writers, any words with those themes? Readers, are you feeling positive or negative today? 😉